Stories,photos,videos,specialsections,printissues,eeditions,packages,magazines,maps,polls,charts - The Paper (2024)

11 locals participate in 1A/2A state meet

Eleven Burke County swimmers took to the pool one last time for the 2022-23 season on Thursday night in the NCHSAA 1A/2A state championship meet at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary.Those swimmers …

Burke EMS signs first apprentices with WPCC’s PACE program

Western Piedmont Community College held a signing ceremony to recognize 13 apprentices: Zachary Ahrensfield, Faith Anderson, Kaitlyn Brady, Taura Calloway, Brianna Cooper, Dakota Davis, Christopher …

Ribbon-cutting marks official opening of Phifer Family YMCA

Sunny skies and temperatures that felt more like early April than early February provided the perfect setting for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Phifer Family YMCA.Although the …

Valdese Town Council gives recognition to Draughn Wildcats football team

Valdese Town Hall was overflowing Monday night, Feb. 6, as the Draughn Wildcats 2022 football team, coaches, and supporters filed into council chambers. Still energized from their hugely successful …

Elephant garlic is not that big, but it's mighty tasty and versatile

John White, of western Burke County, had contacted The Paper last week about his hobby of raising elephant garlic in his garden.We invited John to bring some by so we could get a photograph. Given its name, we expected him to roll it up to our door in a wheelbarrow.

Where the market stands now -- a word to buyers and to sellers

During my 25+ years of real estate experience, I am always asked, how is the real estate market?Most simply say, it is great. It is an important question as real estate is probably their most …

Check out the recipes in 'Getting Phat with the Wildcats'

One of my favorite things about Draughn High School is that from the first day its doors swung open in late August of 2008, being there felt like being a part of a family.I loved the people I …

Nature's Playground is open for business and good business it is

The Burke County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) has a strategic plan for marketing Burke County to visitors and it is working. Visitors to Burke spent $121 million in 2021 . . .

Mark Your Calendar

Saturday, Feb. 11 Community Warm Yoga Classes: 10:30-11:30 a.m., Breathe Yoga & Pilates, 115 W. Union St., MorgantonPop-up Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 111 N. Green St., MorgantonAuthor Event …

'The House' is home to Kellex in Valdese

Charlie and Chris Rice, the brothers who founded Kellex Seating in an Ohio garage nearly three decades ago, don’t refer to their operation in Valdese as “the factory” nor to their work area as “the office.”

One down, four to go

It took a while, but Burke Business Park finally has its first tenant.Representatives of Los Angeles-based UNIX Packaging, LLC, and Burke Development Inc. (BDI), along with numerous local officials, …

Karen Michelle Lail

Karen Michelle Lail, 50, of Hickory passed away at her home on Sunday, February 5, 2023.

Freedom's Jeulenea Khang wins gold at Women’s Invitational

Freedom senior Jeulenea Khang became Burke County’s first female wrestling state champion on Saturday.Khang bettered her runner-up finish from 2022 at the Women’s Wrestling Invitational, co-hosted by the NCHSAA and N.C. Chapter of USA Wrestling, as she defeated Jamie Hearl of Mount Airy by 2-0 decision in the title match at the Greensboro Coliseum Fieldhouse.

Native son proudly leads Rutherford College

For nearly 30 years, Yates Jensen taught students at East Burke and Draughn high schools about the roles and responsibilities of government, from the White House in Washington to the town hall on the …

Engel & Völkers has announced its expansion into the Carolina foothills with three locations opening across Morganton and Nebo. The new shops will be led by license partners Steve Leadbetter and …

Tips to consider when preparing to sell your home

Spring is just around the corner and with the warmer weather comes many homes on the market.Blooming trees, fresh mulch and pretty green grass do a lot for your home's curb appeal on the …

Duffy makes big splash in national BBQ competitions

Travis Duffy of Pierre, S.D., leader of the Last Call Heroes Championship BBQ Team, originally hails from the Oldham area. During a phone interview last week, Duffy told how he has been perfecting …

Keeping it local, and simple

During my junior year in college, around 1977, I needed a second part-time job to pay for a Honda CB 550 four-cylinder to careen and carouse across the country and back with a bunch of school buddies during spring break …

Abee riding big season at UNCA

Fletcher Abee is playing for a winner on the basketball court once again. And perhaps even more than that, he’s enjoying being back near his Burke County home. The Freedom High School 2019 graduate …

The calendar

Weekly Food Truck Court: Mondays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Courthouse Squarein downtown Morganton Feb. 4 The Exploring Joara Foundation holding an Archeology Day: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at the History Museum of Burke County …

High school swimming

H.S. SWIMMINGWEST REGIONAL QUALIFIERS1A/2ADraughnGriffin Stephens (boys 200 free)William Abernathy (boys 200 IM)Trey Jensen (boys 50 free, 100 breast)Brandon Sexton (boys 50 free)Elias Phipps (boys …

Youth basketball: Burke County Rec League

YOUTH BASKETBALLBURKE CO. RECREATION DEPARTMENT LEAGUEStandings through Jan. 31BOYSAGES 7-8DIVISION IOak Hill 8-0East Burke …

High school basketball conference standings

Through Feb. 1BOYS Conf. AllNWC 3A/4A …

Prep basketball hits final week of regular season

Most of the local high school basketball teams hit the final week of regular-season games next week, with the exception of North Carolina School for the Deaf and the NCSSM-Morganton girls, who have …

Meet the high school student-athletes

Nathan Lindsay, Freedom indoor trackGrade: 11thEvents: Triple jump (state qualifier), 55-meter hurdles, 300 metersHow long have you played this sport? Since sixth grade at Table Rock Middle. Why …